The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the Warm Home Discount scheme for winter 2026/27 opens its helpline today (October 19), providing support to eligible households with their electricity bills.
The scheme provides a £150 discount directly onto electricity bills for qualifying low-income households across Scotland, England and Wales. Eligibility is based on household circumstances on August 23, 2026, which means people must have met the relevant conditions on that date to qualify for this winter's support.
Changes to the Scottish scheme
The DWP has also confirmed changes to the Scottish scheme that will allow more eligible households to receive the discount automatically without having to submit an application. However, some people in Scotland will still need to apply directly to their energy supplier, depending on which part of the scheme they qualify for.
Letters will be issued to eligible and potentially eligible households by January 2027, providing further information about their entitlement and any action they may need to take. Claims can be made up until March 31, 2027.
Who qualifies for the £150 Warm Home Discount?
The Warm Home Discount provides a one-off £150 reduction to electricity bills for households meeting the scheme's eligibility conditions. To qualify, the benefit recipient, their partner or legal representative must have been named on an electricity account with a participating supplier on August 23, 2026. The household must also meet the relevant eligibility criteria for the scheme.
In England and Wales, eligibility is linked to receipt of certain means-tested benefits. Scotland operates a different system, with eligible households divided into two categories known as the Core Group and Broader Group. The distinction is important because it determines whether someone receives the discount automatically or needs to make an application.
Warm Home Discount changes in Scotland
For winter 2026/27, changes to Scotland's Core Group mean more eligible households will receive the £150 discount automatically through data matching. This process allows information to be checked to identify households that meet the qualifying conditions without requiring them to submit a separate application.
Qualifying benefits for the Scottish Core Group include Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Support for Mortgage Interest, although additional conditions apply to some benefits.
It's important to be aware that not everyone in Scotland will qualify through the automatic payment process. Some households may still need to apply directly to their electricity supplier under the Broader Group. People who believe they may qualify should check the requirements with their energy supplier, particularly if they have previously received the discount by applying directly. The Broader Group operates separately from the Core Group, meaning an automatic award should not be assumed simply because someone receives a qualifying benefit.
How the £150 discount is paid
The Warm Home Discount is not money paid directly into someone's bank account. It is paid to the energy supplier and applied to their energy account, usually electricity, although customers can ask for it to be applied to their gas account instead. Prepayment customers receive credit towards future energy use, while some people may receive a voucher or cheque depending on their circumstances and supplier.
In most cases suppliers must provide the discount by March 31, 2027. People who are eligible through the Core Group should receive a UK Government letter confirming their entitlement. British Gas says letters for the 2026/27 scheme are expected to start being issued later this month.
Customers who do not qualify automatically but think they may be eligible through Scotland's Broader Group should check their supplier's website regularly as application windows open. The Warm Home Discount helpline will open for calls on Monday, October 19, 2026. Households looking for information about the Warm Home Discount Scheme should contact the helpline on 0800 030 9322. People in Scotland who may qualify through the Broader Group should also check directly with their participating energy supplier about application requirements.
Further information about the scheme, including eligibility and the arrangements for Scotland, England and Wales, is available through the official Warm Home Discount guidance on GOV.UK.
